HKG - The Best Airport in the World?
Dec 30, 2008, 11:32 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2008
Location: North of YYZ
Programs: Aegean Flying Blue
Posts: 176
HKG - The Best Airport in the World?
My husband and I and our son were on AC 15 on 19 December - from YYZ to BKK via HKG. In spite of a travel advisory that flights that day might be delayed / cancelled because of the impending snowstorm, we were happy when the plane started on time towards de-icing.
However, that necessary procedure took more than 2 hours thereby pushing arrival in HKG to 15h00 instead of 14h20. Later we heard then plane would be arriving at 15h20. Our connecting flight to Bangkok was at 16h00 and we were a little concerned we may not make it. It was the tightest connecting time we ever had. I chatted with a few members of the AC crew. "Oh don't worry you'll be placed on the next flight!" We knew that. We were to be met by a guide in BKK. Then, Rick the steward gave me a shot of hope and optimism. HKG he opined is "the best airport in the world" There would be people with signs waiting for late arriving passengers who would be taken promptly to the connecting flight. What about luggage I asked? Rick said the luggage will make it.
Sure enough at arrival a young woman Ka-Wah and a young man Kits were at the exit with a sign bearing out names and departing flight #. As soon as we had identified ourselves they asked for our boarding passes which unfortunately had not been issued in YYZ. "Give us your tickets passports & luggage tags then" & they were off running to the Cathay Pacific counter. Withing minutes Ka-Wah escorted us through security and on towards the departure gate with all the necessary documents.
As we walked I asked "what about our luggage? We need our summer clothes?" She told me the "people in the basement" have already been notified. AC has informed Cathay Pacific but as a rule CX does not accept to take luggage that have arrived less then 1 hour. Shocked, I replied "CX would accept passengers arriving less than 1 hour but not their luggage?!" She assured me everything possible is being done.
Upon arrival in BKK we were very happy indeed to see that our luggage had been transferred after all.
Rick was right. HK is the best airport in the world.
Thanks and best wishes for 2009 to Ka-Wah and Kits who proved their efficiency.
However, that necessary procedure took more than 2 hours thereby pushing arrival in HKG to 15h00 instead of 14h20. Later we heard then plane would be arriving at 15h20. Our connecting flight to Bangkok was at 16h00 and we were a little concerned we may not make it. It was the tightest connecting time we ever had. I chatted with a few members of the AC crew. "Oh don't worry you'll be placed on the next flight!" We knew that. We were to be met by a guide in BKK. Then, Rick the steward gave me a shot of hope and optimism. HKG he opined is "the best airport in the world" There would be people with signs waiting for late arriving passengers who would be taken promptly to the connecting flight. What about luggage I asked? Rick said the luggage will make it.
Sure enough at arrival a young woman Ka-Wah and a young man Kits were at the exit with a sign bearing out names and departing flight #. As soon as we had identified ourselves they asked for our boarding passes which unfortunately had not been issued in YYZ. "Give us your tickets passports & luggage tags then" & they were off running to the Cathay Pacific counter. Withing minutes Ka-Wah escorted us through security and on towards the departure gate with all the necessary documents.
As we walked I asked "what about our luggage? We need our summer clothes?" She told me the "people in the basement" have already been notified. AC has informed Cathay Pacific but as a rule CX does not accept to take luggage that have arrived less then 1 hour. Shocked, I replied "CX would accept passengers arriving less than 1 hour but not their luggage?!" She assured me everything possible is being done.
Upon arrival in BKK we were very happy indeed to see that our luggage had been transferred after all.
Rick was right. HK is the best airport in the world.
Thanks and best wishes for 2009 to Ka-Wah and Kits who proved their efficiency.
Dec 31, 2008, 12:38 am
#4
Suspended
Join Date: May 2008
Location: San Diego
Posts: 3,723
I used to think HKG was the best airport, but not after my last trip there a couple of weeks ago. My flight from HKG to LAX was moved less than 1 hour before departure from a gate on one end of the airport, to a remote satellite gate that required 400 people to go haul to the total opposite end of the airport on short notice, lugging their carry-on bags nearly 1 KM.
I'd say that Osaka Kansai, and Incheon are better airports.
I'd say that Osaka Kansai, and Incheon are better airports.
Dec 31, 2008, 10:13 am
#5
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Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: Boston, Jo'burg, HK
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Posts: 13,163
I used to think HKG was the best airport, but not after my last trip there a couple of weeks ago. My flight from HKG to LAX was moved less than 1 hour before departure from a gate on one end of the airport, to a remote satellite gate that required 400 people to go haul to the total opposite end of the airport on short notice, lugging their carry-on bags nearly 1 KM.
I'd say that Osaka Kansai, and Incheon are better airports.
I'd say that Osaka Kansai, and Incheon are better airports.
Dec 31, 2008, 8:16 pm
#7
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: NYC
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Jan 1, 2009, 1:22 pm
#9
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: HKG
Programs: Priority Club Plat
Posts: 12,311
Overall, HKG is pretty nice, but there are some things that make it user unfriendly.
Main thing is that it's only served by the Airport Express train. If they think the AE is competitive, why not build the MTR to also go there? Why don't they offer people a choice - like you can take HEX, Heathrow Connect or the Tube?
Second, how about a few 2* to 3* hotels for those people transiting overnight, and are not on business expense accounts? Or better yet, an airside one like they have at AMS?
Third, it needs a more spacious bus depot and a people mover getting on that long ramp to/from the terminal. Also, if any of you have taken a "E" bus into the terminal like many locals do, you'll know that the setup is ridiculous, and nothing has changed in 10 years. You either have to know better and get off one-stop early at the parking lot to the south of the terminal; or you end up at a door with no sign and only one or two elevators to get up to the terminal.
All the above suggest that the designer of the airport assume everybody using HKG are business traveler who will either ride a taxi, limo, or the Airport Express to the airport. And they only stay at 4* hotel or above. It's user unfriendly to locals, as well as budget travelers.
---
As for the terminal itself, HKG knows about its problems and is going to changing some things. I believe all gates currently are for wide-bodies, meaning waste of space and long walks among gates. They'll building an infield terminal for the budget airlines, mostly for narrowbodies, I believe.
Other smaller design problems include the very few restroom facilities near the check-in desks; and that most of the eateries (at least those I go to) are on the arrival level. Sorry, but when I arrive at HKG on a flight, I go to the city right away, not going to eat. But if I'm departing from HKG, after I check-in, if I want to eat, I need to go downstairs and come back up.
Also, the nomenclature of the T2 is pretty confusing. Many people can't understand why they're "departing" from T2, but arriving at T1.
Or, why does one need to change trains from T2 to gates? Can't they run it T2-T1-Outside gate without having to switch?
---
One last thing. While I have a HKID and can use the e-channel, I often see the immigration line pretty long at arrivals for visitors.
Main thing is that it's only served by the Airport Express train. If they think the AE is competitive, why not build the MTR to also go there? Why don't they offer people a choice - like you can take HEX, Heathrow Connect or the Tube?
Second, how about a few 2* to 3* hotels for those people transiting overnight, and are not on business expense accounts? Or better yet, an airside one like they have at AMS?
Third, it needs a more spacious bus depot and a people mover getting on that long ramp to/from the terminal. Also, if any of you have taken a "E" bus into the terminal like many locals do, you'll know that the setup is ridiculous, and nothing has changed in 10 years. You either have to know better and get off one-stop early at the parking lot to the south of the terminal; or you end up at a door with no sign and only one or two elevators to get up to the terminal.
All the above suggest that the designer of the airport assume everybody using HKG are business traveler who will either ride a taxi, limo, or the Airport Express to the airport. And they only stay at 4* hotel or above. It's user unfriendly to locals, as well as budget travelers.
---
As for the terminal itself, HKG knows about its problems and is going to changing some things. I believe all gates currently are for wide-bodies, meaning waste of space and long walks among gates. They'll building an infield terminal for the budget airlines, mostly for narrowbodies, I believe.
Other smaller design problems include the very few restroom facilities near the check-in desks; and that most of the eateries (at least those I go to) are on the arrival level. Sorry, but when I arrive at HKG on a flight, I go to the city right away, not going to eat. But if I'm departing from HKG, after I check-in, if I want to eat, I need to go downstairs and come back up.
Also, the nomenclature of the T2 is pretty confusing. Many people can't understand why they're "departing" from T2, but arriving at T1.
Or, why does one need to change trains from T2 to gates? Can't they run it T2-T1-Outside gate without having to switch?
---
One last thing. While I have a HKID and can use the e-channel, I often see the immigration line pretty long at arrivals for visitors.
Jan 1, 2009, 6:21 pm
#10
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: SFOSJCOAK
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Posts: 7,581
Since I have not been to all airports in the world, don't know if HKG is THE BEST. For those that I have been to, HKG remains on top. Efficiency and user-friendliness rank very high. Transportation to city is fast and frequent.
I do like T3 at SIN, but it is a terminal. KIX is small and very functional. Things are easy to find. Lots of seating areas. I also think that the restaurants there are good and not at rip-off prices.
I do like T3 at SIN, but it is a terminal. KIX is small and very functional. Things are easy to find. Lots of seating areas. I also think that the restaurants there are good and not at rip-off prices.
Jan 1, 2009, 6:45 pm
#11
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: BWI
Programs: LH M&M, CX MPC Green
Posts: 1,757
While I think HKG is quite efficient (rkkwan makes plenty of points I was unaware of, save for the long walks between some gates), I think SIN is pretty nice too (T1 a bit blah) but I liked T2 quite a bit. Never been to T3 though... regardless both beat anything I've been to in the US
Jan 1, 2009, 8:35 pm
#13
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: MKE
Programs: DL Diamond, 2 MM
Posts: 1,009
It's true that HKG is a great airport. The trains that take you to immigration run every two minutes and it's easy and relatively cheap to take a coach from the airport to your hotel.
But on December 27 there was a wildcat strike by baggage workers that lasted from 1-4 pm. Baggage could not be loaded onto planes and many people left the airport without their baggage after waiting for two hours. The airport authorities were absolutely clueless on what to do (according to a local newspaper published the next day). Luckily, I had arrived that morning and encountered no problems. Seems there's always an unforeseen fly in the ointment no matter how good an airport is.
But on December 27 there was a wildcat strike by baggage workers that lasted from 1-4 pm. Baggage could not be loaded onto planes and many people left the airport without their baggage after waiting for two hours. The airport authorities were absolutely clueless on what to do (according to a local newspaper published the next day). Luckily, I had arrived that morning and encountered no problems. Seems there's always an unforeseen fly in the ointment no matter how good an airport is.
Last edited by jaimemayo; Jan 2, 2009 at 8:18 am Reason: date change
Jan 1, 2009, 9:37 pm
#14
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Macau, Hong Kong, Shanghai
Posts: 648
I flew out of HK a few years ago, when the whole airport's check-in computer system was down. It seemed to be a total chaos, as all staff were busy on the phone checking back and forth, filling boarding passes and luggage tags by hand.
But in the end the flight was only little more than one hour delayed. So in efficeincy they definitely rank top. But in terms of atmosphere I would always prefer SIN.
But in the end the flight was only little more than one hour delayed. So in efficeincy they definitely rank top. But in terms of atmosphere I would always prefer SIN.
Jan 1, 2009, 11:14 pm
#15
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: 香港
Programs: MPC
Posts: 462
It's true that HKG is a great airport. The trains that take you to immigration run every two minutes and it's easy and relatively cheap to take a coach from the airport to your hotel.
But on December 28 there was a wildcat strike by baggage workers that lasted from 1-4 pm. Baggage could not be loaded onto planes and many people left the airport without their baggage after waiting for two hours. The airport authorities were absolutely clueless on what to do (according to a local newspaper published the next day). Luckily, I had arrived that morning and encountered no problems. Seems there's always an unforeseen fly in the ointment no matter how good an airport is.
But on December 28 there was a wildcat strike by baggage workers that lasted from 1-4 pm. Baggage could not be loaded onto planes and many people left the airport without their baggage after waiting for two hours. The airport authorities were absolutely clueless on what to do (according to a local newspaper published the next day). Luckily, I had arrived that morning and encountered no problems. Seems there's always an unforeseen fly in the ointment no matter how good an airport is.
erm, that was on the 27th. Luckily you arrived 28th, and luckily I sent my parents off on 28th.